The Office of Naval Research (ONR) seeks a broad range of applications for augmenting existing and/or developing innovative solutions that directly maintain and/or cultivate a diverse, world-class Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce to maintain the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps' technological superiority. The goal of proposed efforts must provide solutions that establish, build, and/or maintain STEM educational pathways and workforce opportunities for diverse U.S. citizens directly relevant to ONR science and technology areas.
As the capacity of the Department of the Navy (DoN) Science and Technology (S&T) workforce is interconnected with STEM education and outreach, ONR recognizes the need to support efforts that can jointly improve STEM student outcomes and align education and outreach efforts with Naval S&T current and future workforce needs. This announcement explicitly encourages projects that improve the capacity of education systems and communities to create impactful STEM educational experiences for students of all ages and the naval-related workforce. Projects must aim to increase engagement in STEM, from students to the current workforce, and enhance people with needed Naval STEM skills, knowledge and abilities. ONR encourages applications to utilize current STEM educational research for informing project design and advancing STEM careers and opportunities of naval relevance.
This FOA is specifically seeking STEM education and outreach projects that address scientific and technical areas identified in the following thrust areas. Project scope may range in size and complexity. While not a formal requirement or program focus of this FOA, Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider under-represented and under-served populations including women and minorities in project plans. Special audience priority areas may include, but not be limited to, military connected students, veteran initiatives, and education systems integral to naval science and technology.
Specific program topics include the following:
Cyber Protection – Defense in Depth: Cybersecurity can be deployed at multiple levels often termed defense in depth”. The goal is to enhance high school students' awareness of the impacts and tradeoffs for various layered security defense implementations. The instruction should not just be tutorials but interactive so that the students learn the types of tools/features and how to properly use them based on circumstances. Levels can be categorized into:
- Application and data security
- Host or device security
- Network security
STEM interests supporting warfighter performance include:
- Human Physiology and Performance
- Medical and Biology
- Bio-centric Technologies
- Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy
- Training and Education
- Social and Cultural
- Command and Control
ONR Global STEM interests include:
- Advanced sustainment technologies
- Digital transformation (digital modeling, analysis, engineering, manufacturing, etc.)
- Advanced manufacturing and materials
- Alternate Navigation at High Latitude
- Expeditionary power
- Underwater High Bandwidth Communications
- Undersea Vehicle Technology
Naval Accelerator STEM interests include a broad range of STEM educational and training opportunities for career and workforce development, including but not limited to:
- STEM activities that promote Technology Transfer, such as education and training on patents.
- Develop learners' knowledge, skill, or interest in STEM.
- Attract students to pursue certifications, licenses, or degrees (two-year degrees through postdoctoral degrees) or careers in STEM fields.
- Provide growth and research opportunities for post-secondary, college and graduate students in STEM fields, such as working with researchers or conducting research that is primarily intended to further education.
- Improve mentor/educator (K-12 pre-service or in-service, post-secondary, and informal) quality in STEM areas.
- Improve or expand the capacity of institutions to promote or foster STEM fields
- Development or modification of STEM courses with for the purposes of incorporating inclusivity (e.g., cultural diversity, gender diversity, contributions of underrepresented minorities) and accessibility (e.g., neurodiversity) in the teaching materials.
- Internships for veterans in STEM.
ONR STEM interests include:
- Innovative new STEM areas with a strong focus on diversity, equity and/or inclusion.
Applicants are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to contact the appropriate point of contact for each specific technical area to discuss their STEM proposal.
None available.
The primary basis for selecting proposals for acceptance will be technical merit, importance to agency programs, and fund availability. Cost realism and reasonableness will also be considered when selecting proposals. Applicant's proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria defined by the thrust area point of contact.
Criteria 1, 2, and 3 are equally important.
The thrust area point of contact makes the ultimate recommendation for award of proposals. Proposals will not be evaluated against each other since they are not submitted in accordance with a common work statement. ONR's intent is to review all proposal received as soon as possible after they arrive; however, proposals may be reviewed periodically for administrative reasons.